Government launches new cladding remediation funding for buildings under 11 metres

Buildings under 11 metres will be able to apply for cladding remediation funding for the first time, after the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed a new funding route through the Cladding Safety Scheme, delivered by Homes England.

The announcement sits within a wider package of building safety reform, published in tandem with a new consultation on emergency works and a Financial Conduct Authority review into fire-safety-linked insurance pricing.

The change removes the height threshold that has, until now, kept low-rise buildings outside the scheme's scope, and delivers a commitment set out in last July's Remediation Acceleration Plan Update. Serious cladding problems are less common in lower-rise buildings, and such buildings fall outside existing leaseholder protections, which has left some leaseholders facing large bills for safety issues they did not cause.

What the fund covers

Eligibility follows the existing Cladding Safety Scheme framework, but now with the height threshold removed. Buildings must contain two or more dwellings, and funding is ‘tenure neutral’, meaning both privately owned and social housing blocks can apply on the same basis.

An application cannot be submitted without a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls carried out in accordance with PAS 9980:2022, and a Fire Risk Assessment where one is available. Homes England will review and audit every FRAEW submitted, whether the building is assessed as high or medium risk.

A shift from height to risk

Rather than treating height as the main risk factor, funding will go first to buildings assessed as posing the greatest risk to life – wherever they sit on the height scale.

Building Safety Minister Samantha Dixon framed the change as ensuring "buildings posing the greatest risk to life are prioritised," alongside efforts to streamline decision-making and clarify where responsibility sits.

The National Housing Federation has welcomed the move, noting that height alone had never been a reliable measure of risk, whilst noting that government support remains essential given the scale of remediation still ahead.

The wider package

In addition to the new fund, the government has set out plans for a new Single Construction Regulator to bring the building regulation system under one roof, simplifying the process for the Building Safety Regulator to issue Building Assessment Certificates, and opening a consultation intended to make emergency works easier to carry out.

A forthcoming Remediation Bill is expected to go further on landlords' responsibilities. Separately, the FCA has agreed to review how insurance premiums for buildings with fire safety risks have changed since its 2023 rule changes, and whether leaseholders are getting fair value.

What building owners need to do

Applications open on 17 August 2026 through the Building Remediation Hub, with an eight-week window before the fund closes to new applications and no pre-registration available. Applications must come from the responsible entity or an authorised representative, not from leaseholders or residents directly, though residents unable to get traction with their responsible entity can use the ‘Tell Us Tool’ to notify Homes England. Before funding is confirmed, responsible entities will be asked whether they have explored other routes, such as insurance claims, developer contributions or warranty schemes.

We will be watching how quickly the high-risk pipeline fills once the window opens in August, and how the new Single Construction Regulator's remit works alongside the existing Building Safety Regulator.

If you would like to discuss cladding remediation, building safety, or any of our service lines, complete the form below and a member of the BTG Eddisons team will be in touch.